US6313460B1 - Optical encoder for detecting rotary and linear movements - Google Patents

Optical encoder for detecting rotary and linear movements Download PDF

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US6313460B1
US6313460B1 US09/401,021 US40102199A US6313460B1 US 6313460 B1 US6313460 B1 US 6313460B1 US 40102199 A US40102199 A US 40102199A US 6313460 B1 US6313460 B1 US 6313460B1
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light emitters
optical device
evaluation circuit
grid
light
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Heinz Haas
Martin Haushalter
Frank Möllmer
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Ams Osram International GmbH
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Siemens AG
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01DMEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D5/00Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D5/26Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light
    • G01D5/32Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light with attenuation or whole or partial obturation of beams of light
    • G01D5/34Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light with attenuation or whole or partial obturation of beams of light the beams of light being detected by photocells
    • G01D5/347Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light with attenuation or whole or partial obturation of beams of light the beams of light being detected by photocells using displacement encoding scales
    • G01D5/34707Scales; Discs, e.g. fixation, fabrication, compensation
    • G01D5/34715Scale reading or illumination devices
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01DMEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D5/00Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D5/26Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light
    • G01D5/32Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light with attenuation or whole or partial obturation of beams of light
    • G01D5/34Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light with attenuation or whole or partial obturation of beams of light the beams of light being detected by photocells
    • G01D5/36Forming the light into pulses

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an optical device, which is also called an optical encoder, for quantitative detection of linear and rotary movements.
  • the optical device contains a light emission device, a grid device containing translucent areas and opaque areas, a detection device and an evaluation circuit coupled to the detection device.
  • Optical encoders are used to detect the rotation angle or, respectively, a length and a direction of a rotary movement or, respectively, linear movement of moving bodies.
  • the essential components of such a device are the emitter system, a grid plate, normally a grid disk or a grid straight edge, and the detector system.
  • the emitter system normally contains a light-emitting diode.
  • the light beam emitted from the laser diode is modulated by the grid plate.
  • the grid plate is connected to a moving body and has a periodic opening pattern.
  • the detector system detects the transmitter signal (modulated by the grid plate) from the laser diode and, at the output, and supplies information relating to the light beam and the direction of movement.
  • Previous versions of optical encoders contain a light-emitting diode having additional optics, the grid plate and a detector array with evaluation logic. At the emitter end, a light beam is produced, which illuminates the detector array as uniformly as possible.
  • the detector array contains at least two photodiodes, which are disposed in the direction of a linear movement, or tangentially with respect to a rotary movement. The distance between the photodiodes is one quarter of the grid disk period, and the signals from two adjacent photodiodes are phase-shifted through 90° with respect to one another.
  • the output signals from the photodiodes are suitably processed in an evaluation circuit in order to supply the position and direction of movement.
  • Two photodiodes disposed in a line are sufficient to define the position and direction.
  • embodiments having four photodiodes disposed in a line are widely used in the prior art, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,525.
  • This configuration and the evaluation circuit which is coupled to the photodiodes additionally allow compensation for light intensity fluctuations in the laser diode.
  • an object of the invention to provide an optical encoder for detecting rotary and linear movements which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, whose detector side can be manufactured more easily.
  • an object of the present invention is to specify such a device that can be operated with only one photo receiver.
  • an optical device for quantitative detection of linear or rotary movements.
  • the optical device has a light emission device, a grid device containing translucent areas and opaque areas, and a detection device.
  • An evaluation circuit is provided which is coupled to the detection device.
  • the light emission device has at least two light emitters that are disposed alongside one another in the direction of a linear movement or tangentially with respect to a rotary movement.
  • the light emitters can be actuated in a pulsed mode at the same or different clock frequencies, and in that their radiation strikes the detector alternately.
  • the detection device has a photo receiver that is of such a size and is positioned such that the radiation from all the light emitters can be detected by it and the evaluation circuit is configured for separating the signals which originate from different light emitters. From the detected signals the position and the movement direction can be derived.
  • the photo receiver and the evaluation circuit are preferably integrated in a single semiconductor chip.
  • the clock frequency which is applied to the emitters is much higher than the modulation frequency of the grid plate, that is to say the frequency at which the light beams normally pass through the grid openings when the moving body is moving.
  • a control device for the light emitters, which is configured in such a manner that it actuates the light emitters with control pulses at the same clock frequency, but with a defined phase shift which may be, for example, 90°.
  • a control device for the light emitters, which is configured such that it actuates the light emitters with control impulses at a different clock frequency.
  • Vertical resonator light emission devices in particular vertical cavity surface emitting lasers are advantageously used as the light emitters, since they are distinguished by particularly low divergence and a high light yield.
  • the optical encoder according to the invention has, in particular, the advantage that it can be operated with a single photo receiver.
  • FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of an optical view according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1B is plan view of the optical device shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram light pulse trains of emitters according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram of light pulse trains of the emitters according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • An emission device 1 has two light emitters 11 and 12 , which emit light beams 11 A and 12 A.
  • the light emitters 11 and 12 are preferably vertical resonator laser diodes such as vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL)), since these are distinguished by particularly good emission characteristics, in particular low divergence and a high light yield. In this case, there is no need for any other optical elements, such as lenses to focus the laser radiation.
  • VCSEL vertical cavity surface emitting lasers
  • the light beams 11 A and 12 A are used to define a length and direction of a rotary or linear movement of a moving body.
  • the light beams 11 a and 12 A pass through a grid plate 2 , which is attached to the moving body and at the same time images its movement.
  • the grid plate 2 is generally a circular grid disk, and for detecting linear movements it is a grid straight edge.
  • the illustration shows a detail of the grid plate 2 that is moving, for example, as shown in the direction of the arrow.
  • the grid plate 2 has a periodic opening pattern containing translucent areas 21 , grid openings, and opaque areas 22 .
  • the light beams 11 A and 12 A can pass completely through the translucent areas 21 , and then arrive at a photo receiver 3 .
  • the receiving area of the photo receiver 3 is sufficiently large to be able to detect both light beams 11 A, 12 A.
  • the photo receiver 3 is connected to an evaluation circuit 4 in which signals are processed to form output signals, which supply the position and direction of movement information.
  • the evaluation circuit 4 and the photo receiver 3 can be integrated in a single semiconductor chip as shown in dashed lines.
  • FIG. 1B shows a plan view of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 A.
  • the illustration shows a position of the grid plate 2 in which both light beams emitted by the light emitters 11 and 12 (which are shown shaded) pass through the grid opening 21 and arrive at the receiving area of the photo receiver 3 .
  • a total width of the laser diodes (light emitters) 11 and 12 in the movement direction corresponds approximately to a width of the grid opening 21 .
  • the laser diodes 11 , 12 are thus just located within the grid opening 21 .
  • a distance between the laser diodes 11 , 12 that is to say between their respective front edges, is approximately one quarter of a period of the grid disk.
  • the grid plate 2 now moves in a specific direction, then the radiation from one of the laser diodes 11 , 12 is shadowed to an ever greater extent by one of the opaque areas 22 , while the radiation from the other laser diode still passes through completely. In order to allow this to be detected, it is necessary to separate the timing of the signals from the laser diodes 11 , 12 by the evaluation circuit 4 .
  • the laser diodes 11 , 12 are actuated in the pulsed mode by a control device 7 , in order thus to allow the signals to be separated in the evaluation circuit 4 .
  • the signal frequency is very many times greater than the modulation frequency of the grid disk, that is to say the frequency at which the light beams pass through the grid openings 21 as a result of the movement of the moving body.
  • FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the pulsed mode.
  • the laser diodes 11 , 12 are actuated at the same clock frequency, but the pulse train from the laser diode 12 has a phase lag of 90° in comparison with the pulse train from the laser diode 11 .
  • the evaluation circuit 4 thus receives a sequence of two pulses, which follow one another at a short interval, from the photo receiver 3 during each cycle.
  • the leading-phase and lagging-phase pulses are supplied to different evaluation channels in the evaluation circuit 4 .
  • the two evaluation channels thus contain signals whose phases are shifted through 90° in the time domain.
  • the pulse levels of both pulse trains are equal and are constant with time, that it so say the grid disk 2 is stationary. If it is now set in motion, then the intensity of one of the two pulse trains decreases, since the light beam 11 A, 12 A from the corresponding laser diode 11 , 12 is increasingly shadowed. Since the evaluation circuit 4 knows that the leading-phase pulse originates from the laser diode 11 , it can deduce the direction of the movement by finding which pulse train is weaker. In addition, it can determine the speed and the length of the movement from the rate at which the intensity is reduced and the further profile of the signals.
  • the distribution of the pulses between the various evaluation channels can be carried out by an electronic changeover switch 5 contained in the evaluation circuit 4 , for example using a flip-flop.
  • FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the pulsed mode.
  • the laser diodes 11 , 12 are actuated at different clock frequencies.
  • the laser diode 11 is actuated at a first frequency f 1 and the laser diode 12 at a second frequency f 2 which is higher by a factor of 2 than the frequency f 1 .
  • the pulse trains are supplied to different evaluation channels.
  • the pulse trains can be separated, for example, by bandpass filters 6 .
  • the evaluation circuit 4 identifies the laser diodes 11 , 12 from the pulse frequency and can thus make a statement on the movement direction.
  • the invention is not limited to the use of only two light emitters 11 , 12 . It is also possible to use more than two light emitters disposed in a line which, for example, emit pulse trains according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, which are successively phase-shifted through 90° with respect to one another, or according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, which have a corresponding number of different clock frequencies.

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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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Abstract

An optical device for quantitative detection of linear or rotary movements, in which light beams from two light emitters pass through a grid disk which images the movement and has translucent areas and opaque areas. A single photo receiver is also provided in which the transmitted light strikes the photo receiver. The light emitters are actuated in a pulsed mode. The pulses are separated from one another in an evaluation circuit that is coupled to the photo receiver.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an optical device, which is also called an optical encoder, for quantitative detection of linear and rotary movements. The optical device contains a light emission device, a grid device containing translucent areas and opaque areas, a detection device and an evaluation circuit coupled to the detection device.
Optical encoders are used to detect the rotation angle or, respectively, a length and a direction of a rotary movement or, respectively, linear movement of moving bodies. The essential components of such a device are the emitter system, a grid plate, normally a grid disk or a grid straight edge, and the detector system. The emitter system normally contains a light-emitting diode. The light beam emitted from the laser diode is modulated by the grid plate. The grid plate is connected to a moving body and has a periodic opening pattern. The detector system detects the transmitter signal (modulated by the grid plate) from the laser diode and, at the output, and supplies information relating to the light beam and the direction of movement.
Previous versions of optical encoders contain a light-emitting diode having additional optics, the grid plate and a detector array with evaluation logic. At the emitter end, a light beam is produced, which illuminates the detector array as uniformly as possible. The detector array contains at least two photodiodes, which are disposed in the direction of a linear movement, or tangentially with respect to a rotary movement. The distance between the photodiodes is one quarter of the grid disk period, and the signals from two adjacent photodiodes are phase-shifted through 90° with respect to one another. The output signals from the photodiodes are suitably processed in an evaluation circuit in order to supply the position and direction of movement.
Two photodiodes disposed in a line are sufficient to define the position and direction. However, embodiments having four photodiodes disposed in a line are widely used in the prior art, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,525. This configuration and the evaluation circuit which is coupled to the photodiodes additionally allow compensation for light intensity fluctuations in the laser diode.
The previous systems are thus limited to a configuration of a plurality of photo receivers on the detector side. Such a limitation may be disadvantageous for several reasons. It is thus of primary importance for an optical encoder to be constructed in a space-saving manner. This requirement is thus difficult to satisfy from the start on the detector side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an optical encoder for detecting rotary and linear movements which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, whose detector side can be manufactured more easily. In particular, an object of the present invention is to specify such a device that can be operated with only one photo receiver.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an optical device for quantitative detection of linear or rotary movements. The optical device has a light emission device, a grid device containing translucent areas and opaque areas, and a detection device. An evaluation circuit is provided which is coupled to the detection device. The light emission device has at least two light emitters that are disposed alongside one another in the direction of a linear movement or tangentially with respect to a rotary movement. The light emitters can be actuated in a pulsed mode at the same or different clock frequencies, and in that their radiation strikes the detector alternately. The detection device has a photo receiver that is of such a size and is positioned such that the radiation from all the light emitters can be detected by it and the evaluation circuit is configured for separating the signals which originate from different light emitters. From the detected signals the position and the movement direction can be derived.
The photo receiver and the evaluation circuit are preferably integrated in a single semiconductor chip.
The clock frequency which is applied to the emitters is much higher than the modulation frequency of the grid plate, that is to say the frequency at which the light beams normally pass through the grid openings when the moving body is moving.
In a first embodiment of the invention, a control device is provided for the light emitters, which is configured in such a manner that it actuates the light emitters with control pulses at the same clock frequency, but with a defined phase shift which may be, for example, 90°.
In a second embodiment of the invention, a control device is provided for the light emitters, which is configured such that it actuates the light emitters with control impulses at a different clock frequency.
Vertical resonator light emission devices, in particular vertical cavity surface emitting lasers are advantageously used as the light emitters, since they are distinguished by particularly low divergence and a high light yield.
The optical encoder according to the invention has, in particular, the advantage that it can be operated with a single photo receiver.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an optical encoder for detecting rotary and linear movements, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of an optical view according to the invention;
FIG. 1B is plan view of the optical device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a diagram light pulse trains of emitters according to a first embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a diagram of light pulse trains of the emitters according to a second embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In all the figures of the drawing, sub-features and integral parts that correspond to one another bear the same reference symbol in each case. Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1A thereof, there is shown one exemplary embodiment of an optical encoder according to the invention. An emission device 1 has two light emitters 11 and 12, which emit light beams 11A and 12A. The light emitters 11 and 12 are preferably vertical resonator laser diodes such as vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL)), since these are distinguished by particularly good emission characteristics, in particular low divergence and a high light yield. In this case, there is no need for any other optical elements, such as lenses to focus the laser radiation.
The light beams 11A and 12A are used to define a length and direction of a rotary or linear movement of a moving body. For this purpose, the light beams 11 a and 12A pass through a grid plate 2, which is attached to the moving body and at the same time images its movement. For detecting rotary movements, the grid plate 2 is generally a circular grid disk, and for detecting linear movements it is a grid straight edge. The illustration shows a detail of the grid plate 2 that is moving, for example, as shown in the direction of the arrow. The grid plate 2 has a periodic opening pattern containing translucent areas 21, grid openings, and opaque areas 22. When the grid plate 2 is in certain positions, the light beams 11A and 12A can pass completely through the translucent areas 21, and then arrive at a photo receiver 3. The receiving area of the photo receiver 3 is sufficiently large to be able to detect both light beams 11A, 12A. The photo receiver 3 is connected to an evaluation circuit 4 in which signals are processed to form output signals, which supply the position and direction of movement information. The evaluation circuit 4 and the photo receiver 3 can be integrated in a single semiconductor chip as shown in dashed lines.
FIG. 1B shows a plan view of the configuration shown in FIG. 1A. The illustration shows a position of the grid plate 2 in which both light beams emitted by the light emitters 11 and 12 (which are shown shaded) pass through the grid opening 21 and arrive at the receiving area of the photo receiver 3. As can be seen, a total width of the laser diodes (light emitters) 11 and 12 in the movement direction corresponds approximately to a width of the grid opening 21. The laser diodes 11, 12 are thus just located within the grid opening 21. In other words, a distance between the laser diodes 11, 12, that is to say between their respective front edges, is approximately one quarter of a period of the grid disk.
If the grid plate 2 now moves in a specific direction, then the radiation from one of the laser diodes 11, 12 is shadowed to an ever greater extent by one of the opaque areas 22, while the radiation from the other laser diode still passes through completely. In order to allow this to be detected, it is necessary to separate the timing of the signals from the laser diodes 11, 12 by the evaluation circuit 4.
For this purpose, the laser diodes 11, 12 are actuated in the pulsed mode by a control device 7, in order thus to allow the signals to be separated in the evaluation circuit 4. The signal frequency is very many times greater than the modulation frequency of the grid disk, that is to say the frequency at which the light beams pass through the grid openings 21 as a result of the movement of the moving body.
FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the pulsed mode. In this case, the laser diodes 11, 12 are actuated at the same clock frequency, but the pulse train from the laser diode 12 has a phase lag of 90° in comparison with the pulse train from the laser diode 11. The evaluation circuit 4 thus receives a sequence of two pulses, which follow one another at a short interval, from the photo receiver 3 during each cycle. The leading-phase and lagging-phase pulses are supplied to different evaluation channels in the evaluation circuit 4. The two evaluation channels thus contain signals whose phases are shifted through 90° in the time domain.
In FIG. 2, the pulse levels of both pulse trains are equal and are constant with time, that it so say the grid disk 2 is stationary. If it is now set in motion, then the intensity of one of the two pulse trains decreases, since the light beam 11A, 12A from the corresponding laser diode 11, 12 is increasingly shadowed. Since the evaluation circuit 4 knows that the leading-phase pulse originates from the laser diode 11, it can deduce the direction of the movement by finding which pulse train is weaker. In addition, it can determine the speed and the length of the movement from the rate at which the intensity is reduced and the further profile of the signals.
The distribution of the pulses between the various evaluation channels can be carried out by an electronic changeover switch 5 contained in the evaluation circuit 4, for example using a flip-flop.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the pulsed mode. In this case, the laser diodes 11, 12 are actuated at different clock frequencies. For example, as indicated, the laser diode 11 is actuated at a first frequency f1 and the laser diode 12 at a second frequency f2 which is higher by a factor of 2 than the frequency f1. In this case as well, the pulse trains are supplied to different evaluation channels. The pulse trains can be separated, for example, by bandpass filters 6.
In this variant, the evaluation circuit 4 identifies the laser diodes 11, 12 from the pulse frequency and can thus make a statement on the movement direction.
The invention is not limited to the use of only two light emitters 11, 12. It is also possible to use more than two light emitters disposed in a line which, for example, emit pulse trains according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, which are successively phase-shifted through 90° with respect to one another, or according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, which have a corresponding number of different clock frequencies.

Claims (9)

We claim:
1. An optical device for quantitative detection of linear movements and rotary movements, comprising:
a light emission device having at least two light emitters disposed alongside one another in a direction of one of a linear movement and tangentially with respect to a rotary movement, said at least two light emitters actuatable in a pulsed mode at one of a same clock frequency and different clock frequencies;
a grid device containing translucent areas and opaque areas;
a detection device having a photo receiver sized and positioned such that radiation emitted from said at least two light emitters can be detected by said photo receiver; and
an evaluation circuit coupled to said detection device for separating signals originating from different light emitters.
2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein said translucent areas are grid openings formed in said grid device, each of said grid openings having a width and said at least two light emitters are substantially located within said width of one of said grid openings.
3. The optical device according to claim 1, including a control device for controlling said at least two light emitters, said control device actuates said at least two light emitters with control pulses at the same clock frequency, but with a defined phase shift.
4. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein the defined phase shift is approximately 90°.
5. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein said evaluation circuit has an electronic changeover switch for separating phase-shifted pulses.
6. The optical device according to claim 1, including a control device controlling said at least two light emitters, said control device actuating said at least two light emitters with control pulses at a different clock frequency.
7. The optical device according to claim 6, wherein said evaluation circuit has bandpass filters for separating pulse trains having different pulse frequencies.
8. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein said detection device and said evaluation circuit are integrated in a single semiconductor chip.
9. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two light emitters are vertical cavity surface emitting lasers.
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US20030015591A1 (en) * 2001-07-17 2003-01-23 Chen Bo Su Transmissive apparatus and method for optically sensing relative torque employing moire fringes
US20030015590A1 (en) * 2001-07-17 2003-01-23 Chen Bo Su Reflective apparatus and method for optically sensing relative torque employing Moire fringes
US6552329B2 (en) * 1998-09-21 2003-04-22 Osram Opto Semi-Conductors Gmbh Co. Ohg Method for a quantitative detection of a linear and rotary movement
US6707029B1 (en) * 1999-01-22 2004-03-16 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Optical displacement measuring apparatus having light receiving arrays
US20040051872A1 (en) * 2002-07-11 2004-03-18 Kristian Blidegn Accurate positioning of components of an optical assembly
US6734981B1 (en) * 2000-11-28 2004-05-11 Honeywell International Inc. Multiple laser optical systems and methods
US6787756B2 (en) * 2001-04-12 2004-09-07 Honeywell International Inc. Semiconductor laser-based area scanner
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US20090000403A1 (en) * 2007-06-29 2009-01-01 Rainin Instrument, Llc Hybrid manual-electronic pipette
US8805022B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2014-08-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Velocity detection apparatus having two detectors
US20120069323A1 (en) * 2010-09-16 2012-03-22 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Displacement measuring apparatus
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TWI454702B (en) * 2011-12-27 2014-10-01 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd Measuring system for rotating speed of fan
US10718349B2 (en) * 2015-12-25 2020-07-21 Denso Corporation Fan, and rotational speed detection method

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